Homeowners Warning!
The iStore’s popularity is soaring, so before you settle on a cheap or “free” alternative hot water heat pump, make sure you’re well aware of shonky companies who peddle in poor quality heat pump systems.
The average Australian household energy consumption from conventional hot water heating averages around 25% of its total energy costs. The iStores advanced technology reduces this energy consumption by around 75%.
All round, these savings are considerable, with a payback period of under 4 years for the average household of 3-4 people according to Australian Govt. estimates.
Savvy homeowners and builders who are reducing carbon emissions and increasing their homes energy rating are making the jump to heat pump technology. Homeowners immediately save money on running costs, which explains the increase in popularity.
There are several hot water suppliers in the market taking advantage of this trend while delivering lower quality product, so here are some problems you should be aware of before choosing your next hot water system.
Problem #1: Maintenance issues with lower quality heat pumps
To offer a free or low cost heat pump, many shonky companies supply their customers with very poor quality heat pumps, often the cheapest of the cheap Chinese systems that do not provide any quality assurance of their product. You may see short warranty periods, around 12 months (compared to premium brands such as the iStore which provide 5 years warranty).
The issue here is that these systems have a short shelf life span and could break down within 18 months, while the unweary homeowner hasn’t much choice but to purchase a new system without the Government Rebates which were used on their initial purchase. In many cases, homeowners end up paying much more when cutting corners on cheaper heat pumps.
And even if the cheap heat pump breaks down within the warranty period, many of these companies provide a full refund per consumer law rather than fixing it. Manufacturers that produce cheap systems normally liquidate as their suppliers line up for replacement units or refunds. Many homeowners are caught-out when going down this path.
Problem #2: You’ve Used Up Your Heat Pump Rebate
Each household only gets one rebate (or interest-free loan in some locations) when upgrading from a conventional hot water system to a heat pump system. Once the rebate is used (for a cheap system or otherwise), the household will not have another rebate opportunity for the next system when the shoddy system breaks down.
A cheaper system that has failed will see the homeowners pay full price for supply and installation for their replacement system, so it’s wise to choose carefully when considering heat pump options.
Problem #3: Cheap Heat Pumps Don’t Perform Well
Cheap or “Free” heat pumps come with a plethora of issues. They often struggle to maintain a consistent water temperature, particularly in colder weather.
The tanks are smaller than premium heat pump systems such as the iStore. These two major issues produce lukewarm water on chilly mornings or colder weather.
Cheaper systems take a very long time to reheat water, often between 6 and 10 hours. The iStore can heat water as much as 110 litres an hour.
Besides the above, these inferior hot water heat pumps have design flaws that impact their performance.
Problem #4: Environmental Problems
There’s also the environmental impact from the materials used in the cheaper heat pump. Free/cheap systems use refrigerants such as R41a GWP, which are harmful to the environment. The least harmful refrigerant on the market today is CO2, which is used in high-quality systems such as the iStore.
Problem #5: Shoddy Installations and Shonky Companies.
Where do the profits for companies offering free/cheap hot water systems come from? Your Government entitled rebate of course! Think about this for a moment.
Companies offering “to-good-to-be-true” heat pump systems are cutting costs somewhere to make profit for their businesses right? This includes everything from poor quality installation materials to the hired tradesmen installing your heat pump systems. They typically pay poor rates to their tradies which results in poor workmanship, poor quality installation materials on top of a poor quality system.
Low installation costs usually attracts lesser experienced tradesman to complete the installation, often needing to rush through their work so they can turn over more jobs to offset the low rates. They work on volume as a trade-off to quality which has catastrophic side effects for the unweary homeowner. This usually results in system failure that requires tradesmen to return to fix the job.
Another means of cutting corners is in the installation materials with shonky companies using poor quality parts. This is another fail point which will cost and inconvenience the purchaser.
iStore only uses high quality valves, insulation and pipes for our installations. We only employ certified and registered plumbers/electricians to ensure quality workmanship for peace of mind.
Solution. Avoid the problems, speak to our experts and get a free quote
In summary, you can see many reasons not to be tempted by unscrupulous heat pump suppliers who offer “too good to be true” deals. Homeowners wiling to run the gauntlet of potential issues are mostly caught out one way or another. It often costs more when opting for a cheap deal so be weary!
The old saying “you get what you pay for” is certainly applicable when purchasing hot water heat pumps. Paying for a Government incentivised rebate high quality system such as an iStore will see a measured and expected return on your investment, a reduction on carbon emissions along with a reliable source of hot water for many years to come.
The IStore is a quality built, premium system that will provide a faster return on your investment, reliable hot water and no hassles! We back ourselves with a 5 year comprehensive warranty which speaks for itself.
To find out more and get a free quote on a premium hot water heat pump, get in touch with us today.